QUEZON CITY -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) approved the Typhoon ‘Odette’ Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan, results-based monitoring and evaluation system (RBMES) for the NDRRMP 2020-2030; and the proposed guidelines for the selection of representatives from civil society organizations and private sectors to the national, regional, and local DRRMCs during its full council meeting earlier today, June 29, 2022.

The rehabilitation and recovery plan for the affected regions of Typhoon ‘Odette’ was discussed, presenting top priority programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) for funding under the National DRRM Fund and agency regular budgets up to the year 2025. These PPAs are intended for MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga.

The status of the temporary shelter construction program for the Typhoon ‘Agaton’-affected areas in Leyte province was presented by OCD Eastern Visayas Regional Director and RDRRMC chairperson Lord Byron Torrecarion. The projected completion period for the shelter unit is July 2022.

The draft monitoring and evaluation framework and plan along with the prototype of the web-based RBMES platform was also presented by Office of Civil Defense through Disaster Risk Governance Division Acting Chief Cheryl Leal. This initiative is supported by the United Nations Development Programme. The web-platform will serve as a dashboard for monitoring purposes.

The tool aims to establish a functional and standard DRRM M&E system at all levels, standardize the DRRM reporting tools, approaches, and data capture and reporting guidelines and establish a centralized and digital platform for collecting, reporting, and sharing DRRM M&E-related data needs.

Discussing the next agenda, salient points of the guidelines for the selection of representatives from CSOs and private sectors to the national, regional, and local DRRMCs were presented by OCD Capacity Building and Training Service (CBTS) Director Tecson John Lim. These guidelines went through a series of consultations and workshops.

Salient points of the guidelines include: (1) NDRRMC may include other government agencies as necessary; (2) RDRRMCs shall adopt the composition of the NDRRMC; (3) LDRRMCs shall include a representative from the basic sectors as a regular member of the council as identified by the NAPC; (4) Membership of the CSO and PS extended to two consecutive 3-year terms and extendible should there be new applicants; and (5) National, Regional, and Local DRRMCs may invite the participation of other agencies or organizations as necessary.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs discussed the development of the Database of DRRM Treaties and Agreements to which the Philippines is a party. Its inclusion in the NDRRMC website, the issuance of NDRRMC Memorandum Circular, and the launching of the same during National Disaster Resilience Month in July were approved by the council.

Updates on the latest situation on Bulusan Volcano Eruption and actions taken were presented by NDRRMC Executive Director Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad while the country’s weather outlook was discussed by Deputy Administrator Esperanza Cayanan of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. — tropical cyclones are expected to
The plan for the upcoming National Disaster Resilience Month 2022 in July was also presented during the meeting, highlighting the activities of OCD and the various NDRRMC member-agencies.

This full council meeting, being the last for the outgoing administration, held an awarding of NDRRMC memorabilia tokens to all its sitting members in recognition of their hard work during the past 6-years of the Duterte administration. Outgoing NDRRMC Chair and SND Delfin Lorenzana thanked all the members and congratulated them for a job well done.

The NDRRMC Full Council meeting is regularly attended by heads and representatives of its forty-five member agencies and tackles various policies and programs in the country’s DRRM programs and endeavors. (OCD)